A 21 year old baker from Shaw has been selected for a national challenge to develop new bakery products.

Holly Buttner is one of two young people taking part in BAKO's Young Bakers Innovation Challenge, which gives participants experience of developing a bakery product for the commercial market.

Over the coming months she will research consumer trends, experiment with ingredients and flavours, develop recipes and refine her ideas. Participants will also learn about packaging, branding and planning the launch of a product.

According to BAKO, the finished products are due to be unveiled later this year, ahead of a planned national launch in 2027.

Holly said: "I've always loved creating new bakes, but this is completely different because we're designing products with real customers in mind. It's exciting to think that something we create could eventually be sold across the country.

"I'm especially looking forward to exploring new flavour combinations, understanding emerging food trends and learning what makes a product commercially successful. It's a chance to develop skills that you simply can't learn in a classroom."

Her interest in baking began during childhood when she would spend time making celebration cakes and experimenting with recipes with her Aunty Jane. One of her early baking projects was a treasure chest cake filled with sweets from a traditional sweet shop.

Holly now enjoys creating new versions of traditional favourites, with chocolate brownies among her favourite things to bake. She has also used her skills to raise money locally, helping to organise an afternoon tea fundraiser in memory of a family member for Rochdale's Springhill Hospice.

David Armstrong, group commercial director at BAKO, said: "Holly impressed us with both her creativity and her enthusiasm for product innovation. The Innovation Challenge is about discovering fresh ideas and giving talented young people the opportunity to experience what commercial product development is really like.

"The bakery industry depends on innovation, and we're excited to see Holly's ideas develop into products that have genuine commercial potential."

Holly will take part alongside fellow participant Alessia Ferreira Kilicaslan.

The programme is expected to include bakery trend visits, consumer research, product testing and mentoring from industry specialists. It is being delivered by BAKO with support from Dawn Foods and University College Birmingham.